Collective opinion..... new For Sale Sticky

[Macroni]

"Sorry folks, but there are too many posts in this forum from people asking unrealistic prices for cars which don't sell, leading them to bump....and bump....and bump....their ads, over and over again over many weeks. The sticky at the top of the forum is clear on the rule for how many times an ad can be bumped, and I am enforcing it very, very loosely."

This bothered me.....

I understand the need for guidelines. I just felt the way Black 993 stated it was very inappropriate even with enforcement "very, very loosely".... Given the current run up of the market who is to say what is unrealistic and doesn't one have the freedom to ask any price for their car......

I asked $35,000 for a 104,000 SC; many felt it was unrealistic; this week alone I had three inquiries....... Many times it is the matching of the right car to the right buyer it takes time as people move in and out of the market constantly.......

Opinions...... (PG13 Please)

[techweenie]

Black993 has a tough job.

As I read it, he is not regulating asking prices, but trying to find the logic in frequent bumps.

So people can ask whatever they want; he is only going to go after people that break the rules on spamming the forum with too many bumps.

[speeder]

I say good for him. That will tighten up that board in a hurry. You can still bump your ad a few times, I'm sure. Then it sails down the list as it should.

[Matt Monson]

I don't read it as too aggressive. Wayne's rules say you can bump every 3 days and threads with more than 5 bumps may be closed. I think that's the part he is talking about loosely enforcing.

I suspect if a car is on the market for a month or more, gets bumped twice a week, and sees some markdown (good faith by the seller) he will let is ride for a couple months.

But if someone is bumping their car every two days, stands firm on their price and generally has unreasonable expectations he will shut it down.

At least that is how I interpret his intended plan of attack.
That green 1974 racecar comes to mind. That car was listed for 6 months with very little change to the ad. It clearly was way overpriced. If I regulated that forum I would have killed that thread after the first month.

[wannaporsche]

(My opinion only!!)

If there's a rule about # of bumps, then enforcing this rule and reminding people of it, and deleting excessively bumped posts is perfectly fine. That said, I think including in the idea of "unrealistic prices" in the post (even if it's true) may have added an unnecessary layer of opinion and editorial that may have come of as a little shaming to people hoping to get the most dollar.

[speeder]

The whole thing is, he's not deleting anyone's listing. He's merely closing the thread so that it can't be bumped to the top anymore. It would still be there and be searchable if someone typed, "993" or "911SC", etc. in the search field.

It's plenty fair, IMO. Good cars that are priced right sell so fast it will make your head spin.

[Matt Monson]

Denis makes a good point. They are still there for people to see. They just have to look for it.

I think the remarks about high prices are a nudge to sellers to seriously consider marking down their car if they aren't getting hits at their current ask.

[maninblack]

The only part I had a problem with was "and I am enforcing it very, very loosely". I would prefer it be enforced very, very strictly.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by speeder

Then it sails down the list as it should.

True; ultimately that is where most of the inquiries are coming from as my ad hasn't been bumped in three or four weeks.....

[KNS]

I think it's a reasonable request. If sellers don't like it they don't have to post their ad here. Don't forget, it costs them nothing to put up an ad (yet some people will still find some reason to gripe about a free service). There are plenty of other places to sell your car.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by Macroni

I asked $35,000 for a 104,000 SC; many felt it was unrealistic; this week alone I had three inquiries....... Many times it is the matching of the right car to the right buyer it takes time as people move in and out of the market constantly.......(PG13 Please)

No offense (seriously), but your ad night be the poster child for this problem. 8 self-replies to your own ad in 8 weeks? And still at $35k? C'mon...

Inquiries don't mean squat. It's a nice car, but it's over-priced. Here's an inquiry - would you take $27.5k? Because that's closer to what it's worth.

[Matt Monson]

Though the counterpoint would be he is not bumping it every 3 days even though he is allowed to. He is respectfully letting it fall and just pulling it from the depths once a week.

[Reddy Kilowatt]

It works for me. List for whatever you like. Bump as often as you like within the rules. When you run out of bumps, you run out of bumps. What's the problem?

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Though the counterpoint would be he is not bumping it every 3 days even though he is allowed to. He is respectfully letting it fall and just pulling it from the depths once a week.

I suppose. And I don't mean to come across as wishing the seller any ill will. I sincerely hope he gets what he wants for his car. I guess it's just my nature to feel frustration at the inefficiency of the whole thing. If you haven't sold your car in 8 weeks in a normal market, it's over-priced. If you haven't sold your air-cooled 911 in 8 weeks in a market like today's - it's WAY over-priced.

[kennykimk2]

Hope is a great thing. Happy Father's Day to all of you.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by maninblack

I suppose. And I don't mean to come across as wishing the seller any ill will. I sincerely hope he gets what he wants for his car. I guess it's just my nature to feel frustration at the inefficiency of the whole thing. If you haven't sold your car in 8 weeks in a normal market, it's over-priced. If you haven't sold your air-cooled 911 in 8 weeks in a market like today's - it's WAY over-priced.

Totally fair points, but he hasn't bumped it in a month. I just think his ad is a poor example of the problem. You are focusing on the overpriced thing. I don't think that is intended to be the core message of the new sticky.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by maninblack

No offense (seriously), but your ad night be the poster child for this problem. 8 self-replies to your own ad in 8 weeks? And still at $35k? C'mon...

Inquiries don't mean squat. It's a nice car, but it's over-priced. Here's an inquiry - would you take $27.5k? Because that's closer to what it's worth.

No offense taken....Possibly, I could be the problem that is why I do not agree with the guideline.... I should point out you have proven my point..... the car is in fact not over-priced and could have been sold for very close to asking. I realized it couldn't be replaced...... fact is there are very few cars out there right now.... I am looking for a very nice G series 78 to 89, coupe, original, no tail, no reds, must pass a PPI, need no long term maintenance and have upgraded AC. Please find it for me.....

PS: All bumps are self replies on for sale.....

[WANNA930]

I find this to be the BEST place to find a used Porsche. Great that it is free but a revamp with categories that are easier searched would stop most of the bumps.

The problem is NOBODY searches and if it isn't on the 1st page the search goes no further. In defense the search isn't the best.

The guys with 10 bumps and a bigger story trying to sell the car on each bump are the problem. The yellow 74? needing paint, no seats, no engine or tranny, etc with a complete car price comes to mind. How many times is he going to tell us how great this car is and how well it performs without an engine or even the brakes?

You should not be allowed to post without a PRICE AND LOCATION clearly listed. There are guys who constantly cheat the rules listing cars fishing for the best price. Also if your car is on EBAY without a Buy It Now it shouldn't be in the classifieds.

Also no ads with ZERO information on the car or a link and zero info.

NO I am testing the waters or any other nonsense either your car is for sale or it isn't.

Charge $10 for ads and use the money to revamp the listings. Charge dealers more per car and I couldn't imagine anyone complaining.

By the way anybody have that green 911 I am looking for. See I didn't bump my ad.

[Eric 951]

I'm glad regarding the additional policing of the "for sale" forum. Those mods don't have an easy job, and it is amazing the number of posts made that don't follow the basic guidelines in the sticky(price, location).

[NYNick]

There are more places than PP to sell a car, especially a $35K one. The guidelines are fair and upfront.